NORWOOD — Authorities are scratching their heads after a “mystery reader” managed to spend an unauthorized night inside the Morrill Memorial Library earlier this week.
On Wednesday morning, January 14, Norwood Police responded to a call from a library custodian who encountered a suspicious male inside the building while it was still closed to the public. When questioned, the man reportedly gave a simple, if unusual, explanation: he was just there to read.
The individual is described as a white male, approximately 6’2″ tall, last seen wearing an olive green hoodie and long, baggy pants.
According to police logs, immediately after the encounter, the man fled the building on foot. Officers searched the surrounding downtown area, but the man had already disappeared.
What makes the incident particularly baffling is how the man entered the building. A preliminary investigation of the library’s security footage suggests the individual may have stayed inside the building all night after closing on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.
Police report no signs of a break-in, leading officials to believe he may have simply found a hiding spot before the doors were locked for the evening.
While the “mystery reader” didn’t appear to cause any damage or commit any theft, the security breach has raised questions about closing procedures at the historic town landmark.
“Checked the camera… no sign of any break-in,” Norwood Police noted in the police log narrative, confirming that the building’s perimeter remained secure throughout the night.
For now, the man remains at large, and his choice of reading material remains a mystery. Library officials did not respond to our request for comment. -RD
